Tennessee State University honors first Getahn Ward Memorial Scholarship recipient

Alexis Clark, front, is the first recipient of the Getahn Ward Memorial Scholarship at Tennessee State University. Standing in The Tennessean newsroom, from left, are, Tennessean staff members David Plazas; Mary Hance; Nate Rau; Anita Wadhwani; and Michael A. Anastasi, vice president of news and editor; Sandra Long Weaver, adviser for The Meter at TSU; Dr. Tameka Winston, interim chair of the Department of Communications and associate vice president of Research and Institutional Advancement; and Tennessean staff members Joey Garrison and Lizzy Alfs.(Photo: Mark Zaleski/ For the Tennessean)Buy Photo

Tennessee State University announced the first recipient of the Getahn Ward Memorial Scholarship to help support journalism students at the university.

Alexis Clark will receive $2,000 as part of the scholarship.

Ward, a longtime business reporter at The Tennessean, revered community leader, and adjunct journalism professor at TSU, died at 45 in December 2017 after brief illness.

In his remembrance, The Tennessean, TSU, the National Association of Black Journalists and the Gannett Foundation launched the scholarship to support aspiring journalism students at the university.

So far, the scholarship has raised more than $55,000. The university is still accepting donations.

Individuals who would like to donate are encouraged to write a check to Tennessee State University, 3500 John A. Merritt Blvd., Nashville, TN, 37209-1561. Online donations can be made at bit.ly/getahnward.